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Flying the Emirates A380 in First

September 10, 2014 By Trevor Leave a Comment





This is part of my round the world trip in August/September 2014. For those that are big on premium airline products, I think Emirates’ A380 is near the top. Its not as over the top as the Etihad Residences, but, its pretty over the top.

Before the flight

We had stayed at the Sheraton JFK Airport Hotel the night before, because, we really didn’t want to leave anything to chance with us missing this flight. We had arranged for transfer via Emirates Chauffeur since Emirates offers to premium cabin passengers. When we flew Etihad earlier this summer, we had the standard Lincoln Towncar, so when we walked out of the hotel, we were pleasantly surprised with a Cadillac. Not a huge difference, but, it is consistent with Emirates’ over the top-ness.

Emirates Chauffeur

Emirates Chauffeur

Emirates has a two counter First Class check-in area close to the door (I neglected to photograph that). I will note that checking in took a bit more time than expected because our boarding passes didn’t automatically print out with the lounge invitation. I’m not sure why, but Alaska award tickets are treated like “reduced fare” or “travel industry” tickets, but its not a big deal to get this fixed, you just have to make sure that they know you’re not flying on a reduced fare ticket, and they are able to fix and reprint.

With that worked out, we were soon through security and in the Emirates lounge, which is a pretty good size. The lounge itself has a dining area, a sitting area (with some great views of the tarmac), a smoking area, showers, and two jetways (one to two different gates).

Lounge

Lounge

We grabbed a light breakfast, and did some planespotting.

Planespotting from the Emirates Premium Lounge at JFK

Planespotting from the Emirates Premium Lounge at JFK

Before long it was time to board. Emirates is the only airline that I’ve flown that have a jetway from the lounge to the aircraft (its the jetway to the upper deck, UL1 according to one of the cabin staff).

Boarding the Emirates A380 from the lounge.

Boarding the Emirates A380 from the lounge.

Once onboard, we were shown to our seats, 1F and 1K. The seat itself was comfortable, but it was the overall suite that was over the top.

Seat

Seat

As if we thought that was enough, as we were sipping Veuve Clicquot champagne, we received eye shades, slippers (note, usually airline slippers don’t fit, but they actually had extra large size), a rather large amenity kit, and pajamas. They gave us “beach bags” to carry it all.

 

Emirates First Class Amenities

Emirates First Class Amenities

As we were sipping our champagne, one of the cabin staff came by with information for the Emirates A380 Shower Spa, and asked us when we would like to take our shower. My wife chose, I think, 2 hours before landing, I initially selected 3 hours before landing (although that didn’t go as planned). Here’s the brochure:

Shower Spa menu

Shower Spa menu

Once we were in the air, I had a glass of champagne, Emirates serves Dom Perignon 2004.

Dom Perignon on Emirates

Dom Perignon on Emirates

I decided to have a meal shortly after take-off, although I didn’t remember to take pictures of the menu. Between my wife and I, we tried a good selection. The first row were the appetizers; duck, and Caviar, second row were the entrees; steak and halibut (I think — my wife had it), the final row was the place setting and desert.

Dinner

Dinner

After dinner I took a walk around the plane,and ended up in the business class lounge / bar area. We had a bunch of fun there with the crowd and excellent crew.

business class lounge

business class lounge

After some time at the bar (and few measures of great Hennessy Paradis), we opted for some sleep. The beds were pretty comfortable – I ended up getting about 3 hours of sleep.

Emirates First Class Bed

Emirates First Class Bed

About 3 hours into my nap, I woke up feeling pretty bad, you can read about it here, but suffice it to say, I had an allergic reaction to something, still not sure what. After my extended stay in the shower spa, I was able to rest some, and the crew were graciously able to offer me a different time to shower. This was after all, the whole point of flying this aircraft, I think they’d have to have taken me off the plane in a stretcher before I’d skip the shower at 40,000 feet.

Here’s a brief look at the Shower Spa — I’ve got a better selection of photos from the second flight (my head was more in the game, shall we say). Although you can see the “Relax” and “Refresh” sets of soaps/shampoos etc., even body scrubs in the upper right photo. Behind those, there was even a loofah (which I understand goes very well with the body scrub).

Shower Spa

Shower Spa

Wrapping Up

Overall, the flight was great, sans my allergic reaction. That said, the crew’s training really shined through there, and I am truly grateful for that. Aside from that experience, the hard product is great, the soft product was great as well. I definitely felt like this was an A-team caliber crew.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: Award Redemptions, Emirates A380, Emirates First Class, Travel

The Emirates’ A380 Shower Spa I never expected

August 27, 2014 By Trevor 15 Comments

(Note: I’m traveling this week and next so posts may be sparser than normal)

Introduction

Flying the Emirates A380 in First Class was one of my bucket list items. A colleague and friend of mine jokes that all I do is chase metal (airplanes), but this Emirates A380 flight was different, for two reasons. The first I knew before. It had a Shower Spa, allowing First Class passengers to shower at 40,000 feet. The second reason I wouldn’t learn until I was onboard the aircraft and more than halfway to Dubai.

The Second Reason

About 5 hours out of Dubai, I started to feel bad. I won’t go into the details, but I was feeling tightness of throat, and some other symptoms. First I went to the shower spa, which doubles as a bathroom for the first class cabin. Then I decided maybe I should head to the lounge in the stern of the upper deck. A sprite later, I returned to my seat and woke my wife (who’s especially patient with me). At this point, my symptoms were worsening and increasing. We both started to get concerned and one of the crew noticed and brought some cold towels. A few minutes later, another member of the crew offered have us sit in the shower spa to see if that helped. It was out of the main view of the other passengers, and my condition felt like it was deteriorating, so I took them up on the option.

Within a few minutes, that shower spa which has a sign for maximum occupancy of 2 passengers had 5 individuals in it. My wife, myself, and three crew members who were absolutely amazing. Within minutes they had a medical device out to gauge my blood pressure and pulse. I was overheating at this point, and my wife aptly commented that I was looking flush. I happened to look into the mirror after a few minutes on oxygen and I mentioned that my face was on purplish side – the comment was meant to relax the situation a bit, I’m not sure if it hit the mark.

The crew were able to communicate with medical professionals on the ground which gauged this as a likely allergic reaction. I think we all came to that conclusion between tightness of throat, difficulty breathing and a developing rash on my arm. After a few minutes of oxygen and more tightness in my throat, the crew asked if there was a medical professional onboard. Luckily there was. A few minutes later she administered an “Epi-Pen” (my first experience with that, as well as everything else that had transpired). Another 20 minutes between the oxygen and the effects of the Epi-Pen and I was starting to feel better. Even as I write this, my hands are shaking. I’m not sure if it is because of the experience, or because of the epinephrine, but I’ll accept either reason.

Back to my reason for wanting to take this flight in the first place

I did still get the chance to take a shower at 40,000 feet. Still shaky in the shower, it was an experience I hadn’t really expected. Refreshing, but really, what I will remember most of my experience in the shower spa is humbling. That said – shower at 40,000 foot experience if taken separate from everything else that happened, was really quite well done – not cramped like you might expect (and have experienced on boats).

Shower Spa I spent way more time in than I expected to.

Shower Spa I spent way more time in than I expected to.

Conclusion

First and foremost, I have to express (and will in a separate letter to Emirates) for some members of the crew that were there and on the top of their game. Danielle, Thomas, Robert, Millicent, and Catherine really could not have been better in this situation.

I cannot gauge how bad I was. I know I was concerned, I know everyone else in the shower spa was concerned, but I suppose we wouldn’t have been there if we weren’t. I’ve flown over half a million miles in the last 5 or so years (I’ve never actually calculated it), I’ve been onboard when the crew calls for a doctor. I’ve never been the one that the crew was calling because, until now. But I couldn’t be more grateful for the team that jumped into action to help, including the doctor that happened to be on the flight. I think that we often forget that airline crews undergo significant training for these and many other scenarios. They are not just onboard to serve us a meal and beverages. These are skilled professionals that when necessary can and do jump into action.

Filed Under: Travel, Where Credit is Due Tagged With: Emirates A380, Emirates Shower Suite, Travel

Trying to decide where to visit in Asia

July 29, 2014 By Trevor 14 Comments

Last month I shared my process for preparing for an overseas trip. This month, after having spent all of July off a plane, I’m finding that my plans for next month are up in the air; I suppose, figuratively and literally.

What’s currently booked

This trip essentially began being formed nearly a year ago when my wife gave in we decided to fly Emirates A380 in First for two legs, hopefully getting two showers at 40,000 feet, and visiting Dubai’s A380 terminal. Here’s what we have so far:

Currently booked flight out.

Currently booked flight out (Emirates flights in Navy).

For the way back, it was another airline product bucket list thing for me, flying Cathay Pacific in First Class. I know, I know, everybody’s flown that, but, I just haven’t had the opportunity yet and I wanted me some Hong Kong Milk Tea. So we hastily booked a fairly awkward flight home, thinking that flights would open up. A month out, they aren’t.

Currently booked trip home on Cathay Pacific.

Currently booked trip home on Cathay Pacific.

The dilemma – how to avoid domestic the transcon.

So, as you can see for the way home, its a pretty rough trip. anytime you have 3 legs, with the last one being domestic (first or economy for that matter), I feel like I return exhausted. I’ve looked, and just can’t seem to find a whole lot of space returning home, except for maybe Korean Airlines to Atlanta on their A380. That would however leave me stuck in Atlanta and needing to get another flight (maybe use my Southwest Companion Pass?).

The bigger dilemma – where to go anyway?

So, other than trying to get home, I still have to decide where we actually want to go.

Options.

The original plan was to visit the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, then go to Phuket (really Khao Lak) for some rest and relaxation. It would require a stop though (in Singapore or Bangkok most likely) to go from Siem Reap to Phuket. Option one: is to visit two new countries, to not just see the Angkor Wat, but also to visit Vietnam. Option two: Would be to visit Angkor Wat, and then head up to Beijing to see some of the sites there before our 1 year visa’s expire.

I’m not entirely sure we’re limited to just those three options, as the way home sort’ve makes a difference, because we need award availability. That said, I’m comfortable limiting the options to those as I try to match up award space home, otherwise it could get overwhelming.

Conclusion

That’s the fun of trip planning, the conclusion isn’t until non-refundable hotels or flights get booked. I think my next step is to see if I can snag some of that Korean Air award space from Asia to Atlanta. Of course, I’m more than open to any suggestions that folks have, I could be missing an awesome alternative (e.g. I could be missing the key to seeing award space on Air China’s new 777-300ER to Dulles).

Filed Under: Tagging Miles, The Brass Ring, Travel Tagged With: Asia, Emirates A380, First Class, Korean Airlines, Travel

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